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Random ramblings
Oct. 10th, 2012 05:18 pmI decided it would be fun to match knitting patterns to Heroes of Olympus characters...for no particular reason. (And because I can't actually create patterns myself. :P)
Jason Grace:
- Hurricane Beanie
- Zeus Hat
Piper McLean:
...Some sort of light scarf/cowl with a feather motif?
Annabeth Chase:
Either a scarf/hat with a cable motif
Percy Jackson:
Beanie with an ocean wave motif (haven't found a suitable match yet)
Jason Grace:
- Hurricane Beanie
- Zeus Hat
Piper McLean:
...Some sort of light scarf/cowl with a feather motif?
Annabeth Chase:
Either a scarf/hat with a cable motif
Percy Jackson:
Beanie with an ocean wave motif (haven't found a suitable match yet)
Confessions of a Woeful Knitter
Jul. 19th, 2012 09:33 pmSo. In addition to wanting to make EVEN MORE HATZ (in particular, the Snapdragon Tam and the hat that Gwen Stacy wears in The Amazing Spider-Man), I also decided that I really, really wanted to have a Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter scarf. Or two.
The problem is finding the right yarn to use for it.
I've become a bit of a yarn snob ever since I bought my first bunch of yarn, an acrylic/wool blend (Plymouth Encore), and, after I'd finished knitting the scarf, I realized I couldn't wear it because it was too scratchy. Even though I'm a broke student, I quickly became a fan of merino yarn.
But for a PoA scarf, I'm going to need much more yarn than I usually use (two colors, and multiple skeins of the main color), so I'll need something fairly inexpensive. Also, the Harry Potter house colors are rather particular, so I'd need yarn in exactly the right color. And finally, I still need yarn that I can actually wear around my neck, and yarn that is at least somewhat durable.
My only conclusion: I must, sadly, return to acrylic yarn.
I'm thinking of using Berroco Vintage for a Ravenclaw PoA scarf, as it seems like it comes in the right colors and it's not 100% acrylic, but I'm stumped about Gryffindor. I may have to resort to Caron Simply Soft 100% acrylic...sigh...
The problem is finding the right yarn to use for it.
I've become a bit of a yarn snob ever since I bought my first bunch of yarn, an acrylic/wool blend (Plymouth Encore), and, after I'd finished knitting the scarf, I realized I couldn't wear it because it was too scratchy. Even though I'm a broke student, I quickly became a fan of merino yarn.
But for a PoA scarf, I'm going to need much more yarn than I usually use (two colors, and multiple skeins of the main color), so I'll need something fairly inexpensive. Also, the Harry Potter house colors are rather particular, so I'd need yarn in exactly the right color. And finally, I still need yarn that I can actually wear around my neck, and yarn that is at least somewhat durable.
My only conclusion: I must, sadly, return to acrylic yarn.
I'm thinking of using Berroco Vintage for a Ravenclaw PoA scarf, as it seems like it comes in the right colors and it's not 100% acrylic, but I'm stumped about Gryffindor. I may have to resort to Caron Simply Soft 100% acrylic...sigh...
Random Odds and Ends
Mar. 10th, 2012 11:32 pmJust felt like putting this somewhere, for future reference.
Yarn Reviews
Malabrigo Rios: Super soft merino wool in beautifully variegated colors, and I don't think there's a single colorway that I dislike. It's machine washable, too (though I haven't tried yet, so I can't comment on it). And it's got great yardage. It's plied, so it's somewhat durable, though the only downside I see so far is that it still tends to get fuzzy with a lot of friction. Definitely should only be used for low-friction items such as hats or scarves (and even scarves I'm not entirely sure about).
Berroco Ultra Alpaca: Half alpaca and half wool. The heathered colors are quite nice. The yarn has lots of sheddy bits, which can get annoying. Also, it's not very high-grade alpaca; funnily enough, while I find this yarn great for winter hats, it's too itchy for my neck, and it's too itchy even for my hands.
Valley Yarns Goshen: Peruvian cotton, Modal, and some silk. It's my first time using a cotton yarn. Goshen is quite soft, and it has a nice sheen. It's a little bit splitty, but not terrible. Since I haven't finished my hat yet, I can't make any other comments, but I'm quite curious about its stretchability, drapability, and durability (and any other -bilities).
Yarn Reviews
Malabrigo Rios: Super soft merino wool in beautifully variegated colors, and I don't think there's a single colorway that I dislike. It's machine washable, too (though I haven't tried yet, so I can't comment on it). And it's got great yardage. It's plied, so it's somewhat durable, though the only downside I see so far is that it still tends to get fuzzy with a lot of friction. Definitely should only be used for low-friction items such as hats or scarves (and even scarves I'm not entirely sure about).
Berroco Ultra Alpaca: Half alpaca and half wool. The heathered colors are quite nice. The yarn has lots of sheddy bits, which can get annoying. Also, it's not very high-grade alpaca; funnily enough, while I find this yarn great for winter hats, it's too itchy for my neck, and it's too itchy even for my hands.
Valley Yarns Goshen: Peruvian cotton, Modal, and some silk. It's my first time using a cotton yarn. Goshen is quite soft, and it has a nice sheen. It's a little bit splitty, but not terrible. Since I haven't finished my hat yet, I can't make any other comments, but I'm quite curious about its stretchability, drapability, and durability (and any other -bilities).
Yet another To-Do list
Feb. 19th, 2012 07:13 pmAccomplished:
- Finished the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret
To-Do:
- Survive next week of class
- Once the crazy dies down, choose an afternoon to hop on the bus to the mall and read Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell
- Also find a day to jump on the bus again and buy yarn for a Spring Beret (last one, I swear!!)
- Harass sister about beta-reading stuff
- Finished the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret
To-Do:
- Survive next week of class
- Once the crazy dies down, choose an afternoon to hop on the bus to the mall and read Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell
- Also find a day to jump on the bus again and buy yarn for a Spring Beret (last one, I swear!!)
- Harass sister about beta-reading stuff
Random rambling is random!
Feb. 12th, 2012 06:08 pmThe Spring Beret, Meret, and Grace Lace Beret all look very, VERY similar in terms of the lace pattern.
Hm.
Hm.
Knitting, Knitting, Knitting
Feb. 10th, 2012 03:15 pmOnce you start, you can't stop... :(
Wishlist:
- Star Crossed Slouchy Beret in Berroco Ultra Alpaca (Blueberry Mix)
- Spring Beret in Plymouth Covington (Black Plum)
- One Row Lace Scarf in Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend (Bluejay)
- Flat-knit Convertible Mittens/Fingerless Gloves in ???
I'm pretty confident now in my ability to adapt (simple) beret patterns for straight needles, because I don't own DPNs/circulars, and I think circulars would be a bit of a hassle, anyway. Technically, I don't need another scarf, but I really...can't...resist...buying one skein of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend. And I've always wanted to try my hand at knitting mittens/fingerless gloves, despite the fact that I don't need them at all...
(For a while, I was tempted to try a Shizuku and modified Saroyan, but, dammit, self, I don't need any more scarfs! :/)
Edit: Also, may I say, Malabrigo has some of loveliest names for their colors.
Zarzamora = purple/green = blackberry bush
Candombe = dark purple/blue with strains of lighter colors = an African dance
Indiecita = blue/green with hints of purple and yellow = Indian girl
Cumparsita = red/purple = an iconic tango song
Hiroshige = blue/yellow = the name of an ukiyo-e [woodblock print] artist
Wishlist:
- Star Crossed Slouchy Beret in Berroco Ultra Alpaca (Blueberry Mix)
- Spring Beret in Plymouth Covington (Black Plum)
- One Row Lace Scarf in Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend (Bluejay)
- Flat-knit Convertible Mittens/Fingerless Gloves in ???
I'm pretty confident now in my ability to adapt (simple) beret patterns for straight needles, because I don't own DPNs/circulars, and I think circulars would be a bit of a hassle, anyway. Technically, I don't need another scarf, but I really...can't...resist...buying one skein of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend. And I've always wanted to try my hand at knitting mittens/fingerless gloves, despite the fact that I don't need them at all...
(For a while, I was tempted to try a Shizuku and modified Saroyan, but, dammit, self, I don't need any more scarfs! :/)
Edit: Also, may I say, Malabrigo has some of loveliest names for their colors.
Zarzamora = purple/green = blackberry bush
Candombe = dark purple/blue with strains of lighter colors = an African dance
Indiecita = blue/green with hints of purple and yellow = Indian girl
Cumparsita = red/purple = an iconic tango song
Hiroshige = blue/yellow = the name of an ukiyo-e [woodblock print] artist
Yarn Talk, Movie - Thor
Dec. 27th, 2011 03:37 pmAhhh I so badly want to go and buy yarn. I really want to use Malabrigo Rios (Azules) for a seafoam stitch scarf, though I was also wondering if Manos del Uruguay's Silk Blend (in Bluejay) would be enough for a scarf as well. And then I saw an awesome hat pattern that doesn't require circular needles (well, half of it doesn't, and I'm hoping I can get by on straight needles for the rest of it...), and I really want to make one using Malabrigo Twist...in Stonechat, maybe?
Anyways, I've been spending this winter break so far playing catch-up with the many movies released this year. Yesterday, my sister and I watched Thor.
The movie was entertaining enough, even if the story was kind of meh, Norse mythology got butchered, and the humans were pretty useless. But Loki has got to be one of the best villains so far in a superhero movie, and the actor did an outstanding job. It was my first time seeing Chris Hemsworth on screen, and I have to say, every time he smiled, I felt like smiling with him.
I was talking with my sister afterward about how in Western movies, it seems like the buff, muscular guy is the hero and the thin, scrawny guy is the villain most of the time. I mean, I think Loki is far from ugly, but thin build + pale skin + dark hair = the face of evil, apparently.
Anyways, I've been spending this winter break so far playing catch-up with the many movies released this year. Yesterday, my sister and I watched Thor.
The movie was entertaining enough, even if the story was kind of meh, Norse mythology got butchered, and the humans were pretty useless. But Loki has got to be one of the best villains so far in a superhero movie, and the actor did an outstanding job. It was my first time seeing Chris Hemsworth on screen, and I have to say, every time he smiled, I felt like smiling with him.
I was talking with my sister afterward about how in Western movies, it seems like the buff, muscular guy is the hero and the thin, scrawny guy is the villain most of the time. I mean, I think Loki is far from ugly, but thin build + pale skin + dark hair = the face of evil, apparently.
Ramblings About Yarn
Oct. 14th, 2011 12:28 pmI learned how to knit over the past week, and I've been trying to finish a Turkish Stitch scarf. The problem is, I have an easy time messing up the Turkish Stitch, causing me to have to undo the entire thing (because I haven't figured out how to undo just a few stitches). Also, I don't think the yarn I have is long enough...oh well.
But it's been a long time since I've done any arts and crafts. I'm pretty good with my hands--I used to make things out of gimp and floss all the time when I was a kid, so I'm enjoying knitting, apart from the fact that I still mess up a lot. I'm thinking to get more yarn so I can make more scarves. I usually never buy scarves, even though I like them, so now I have some sort of obsession with making them myself, haha.
List summary:
- Currently working on Turkish Stitch scarf
- Hope to knit:
1. Rib stitch scarf
2. Seafoam stitch scarf
3. Feather and Fan scarf
But it's been a long time since I've done any arts and crafts. I'm pretty good with my hands--I used to make things out of gimp and floss all the time when I was a kid, so I'm enjoying knitting, apart from the fact that I still mess up a lot. I'm thinking to get more yarn so I can make more scarves. I usually never buy scarves, even though I like them, so now I have some sort of obsession with making them myself, haha.
List summary:
- Currently working on Turkish Stitch scarf
- Hope to knit:
1. Rib stitch scarf
2. Seafoam stitch scarf
3. Feather and Fan scarf
